Buffy asked him to come home. Home? What did she
mean by that?! Did she want him to live with her? Did she think it was his home
now, too? Couldn't be. He had tried to rape her, tried to kill her. She didn't
want anybody to know about them as they were, well, doing it, why now? What
changed her mind? She asked him out, even told him she loved him after the thing
with those agents. Was it all about the soul or did she love him before?
"Luv?" "Yes Spike?", she squeezes the hand she's been
holding since they started walking to Revello Drive. "Why now? Is it
because of the soul? Because if that's
the point this won't work. I didn't change that much. I am not Peaches. I mean I
was evil like him, and if anyone asks I still am evil, but I was sorry for what I did to you before I left. The
Poofster never felt guilt without his soul. The only thing that changed for me
is that I can feel, hear them now. Everyone I killed. But I changed before,
Buffy. I changed for you and I'm still the same guy. Big Bad, evil Spike."
"I know." "What is it then? Did you just think, oh he's got a
soul, now I can love him! Now I can tell my friends." " I loved you
before. I just didn't want to see it, couldn't at that time. Yes, I was afraid
about what they'd say if they knew, but now they do know and I don't care what
they think, they need to deal with it. And so do I, Spike. It won't be easy."
"No, it won't." They walk in silence for a little while."What did
you mean by it?" "What did I mean by what?" "You said I
should come home." "Oh. I'm not asking you to move in, -not yet. But I
want you to be able to come and go as you please and to stay overnights and
things like that, I want to get as normal as we can. I just want you around and
I want you to feel at home in my house, too. Dawn loves you, even if she's still
angry." "I hope it'll work, Pet." They arrive at the Summers
House some time later to find Dawn and Willow sitting in the living-room
watching TV. "Hey Buffy. Spike.", Willow mumbles around a mouthful of
Popcorn. "I found out something about this guy. He's FBI, I think."
"We know it already Will, they aren't a threat...I hope."
"Hey!", Spike screams. "Spike, what's the problem with you?",
Buffy asks. Spike jumps onto the couch between Willow and Dawn, grabs a hand of
Popcorn and stares at the screen. "Passions. They are watching Passions,
Luv. And without me!" "What were we thinking Willow,
doing something as important as watching 'Passions' and not inviting
Spike." "Don't make fun of me Nibblet. This series is great,
your mother valued it, the woman had taste." "Does anybody want
something to drink?", Buffy asks. "Coke." "Me, too."
"Cup of blood." "Eww, Spike." "What, you asked pet."
"Well wouldn't you like something else and make yourself a cup of blood
later." "Bloody hell, ok no blood. Do you have some of the cocoa and
those little marshmallows your mother always had?" She turns around and
walks to the kitchen. "Hey Buffy wait, I'll help you.", Dawn runs
after her.
"Why are you staring at me like this,
Red?" "I am so not staring." "Bollocks."
"So...?" "So what?" "Well, you and
Buffy?" "What? Get it over with and let me watch this."
Willow grins,"So you're a couple now?" "Think so." "You
think so? Who should know it if you don't?!" "Look, it isn't that easy."
"Bollocks Spike. Well that word doesn't work without the british accent now,
does it?!", he shakes his head in amusement. "Yes, I think we're a
couple, Red. But we'll never be normal with her being the slayer and me
being...dead." "But you aren't all 'grr' anymore." "Haven't
been for a very long time." "If
you're going to hurt her, I'm gonna kill you!" "Stay in the line witch.
First comes the slayer then Dawn. If they both fail you can kill me."
"Promise?" "Hell, yes."
"So Buffy?", Dawn says opening a drawer
and taking out some glasses and a cup. "You two back together?" "We're...,
Have you seen the marshmallows?" "They are over there. Is he going to
stay over?" "Thanks. Sometimes, yes." "Want coke or cocoa?"
"I'll take cocoa, too." Dawn puts back one of the glasses and takes
out another cup while Buffy heats the cocoa and throws some of the
mini-marshmallows into the cups. "You can deal with that?" "Yeah,
I mean he was my friend. If you can forgive him, then I will, too." "Thanks
Dawn, I need ev'ry bit of support I can get." "What about the others?"
"Willow's alright with it I think and Xander'll come around." "He
lives with Spike what if he stakes him?!" "He won't... I hope."
Buffy pours the cocoa into the cups, Dawn grabs two
cans of diet coke and both girl walk back into the living room.
Spike's still staring at the TV as they enter. He
doesn't even look up as he takes one of the cups from Buffy. Dawn sits down in
front of the TV and Buffy sits next to Spike laying her feet into his lap.
"Spike how can you watch this crap?"
"This isn't crap, Luv.", he looks wounded.
"Well, I'm going to bed, you staying here or
are you coming?" Buffy's already at the stairs as he eventually gets up and
follows. Dawn groans, "Oh no, but be quiet, I don't want to go see a
therapist because I heard something I shouldn't" "Do nothing I
wouldn't.", Willow yells.
In the middle of the night Buffy wakes up from
another nightmare. "What is it luv?!", he asks wooriedly, "You
screamed." Buffy looks around the room anxiously and whispers, "From
beneath you it devours."
~THE
END~
Comments: Thanks to my beta Melissa again. I
dedicate this story to Lioba, Claudia and Kristine, who make me able to survive
school. (It's so boring.)